Countdown to Kickoff: Texas Southern looks for improvement in 2018

Texas Southern rolls into San Marcos on Sept. 8 for the Bobcats’ home opener.

The Tigers, who play in the SWAC, are coming off a 2-9 2017 campaign. TSU has had 17 straight losing seasons.

The Tigers’ offense struggled in 2017. Texas Southern only scored 17.5 points per game, threw for a total of 1,443 yards and ran for total of 1,265 yards. The Tigers ranked No. 112 out of 123 FCS schools in passing offense averaging 138.4 yards per game.

Texas Southern will turn to either Elijah Odom, Jay Christophe or Glen Cuiellette at quarterback in 2018. Odom and Christophe saw action for the Tigers in 2017. Christophe played in three games and threw for 411 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. Odom played in five games and threw two touchdowns on 365 yards. Texas Southern will have to find new threats in the passing game with only one of its top three receivers returning. Malik Webb caught 16 passes for 264 yards. But he didn’t haul in a touchdown pass in 2017.

In the running game, TSU ranked No. 86 in FCS with 124.5 yards per game. Then-junior Brad Woodard led the Tigers with 497 yards and four touchdowns in 2017.

Defensively, the Tigers finished No. 85 in total defense by allowing 403.7 yards per game. TSU had three players lead it in sacks with three. Two of their sack leaders return: Sean Jones and Ike Onwuasoanya. The Tigers will also have their leading tackler return: Julian Marcantel, who notched 83 tackles. Jones was the second leading tackler with 68.

Texas Southern begins its 2018 season against UT Permian Basin on Sept. 1 at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston.

The Tigers then travel to San Marcos to take on Texas State. Kickoff between TSU and the Bobcats is set for Sept. 8 at 6 p.m. inside Bobcat Stadium.